Richards praises versatile players

Graham Richards praised the versatility of his young Sudbury RFC team following their 20-3 London League Division Three North East victory over Romford and Gidea Park on Saturday.

Frazer Beckett was ruled out on Thursday after twisting an ankle in training, and Tom Summers filled the scrum-half spot, the first time he has played the position, and in only his second game back after missing much of last season through injury.

Second-half changes, Ethan Wright going off with a shoulder injury, saw Summers move out into the threequarters as Richards shuffled the pack.

“We are lucky to have a few backs who can play in different positions,” he said. “I thought Tom was outstanding in the first half.

“To be 20-0 up at halftime was beyond our expectation really. We played some very good rugby in the first half. Unfortunately it’s a game of two halves and they came back at us with a slightly different game plan which, once we came to terms with it, we defended very well.”

Romford were two divisions above Sudbury last season, and Saturday’s victory, added to the one at Rochford Hundred the previous week, has given them a confidence-boosting start to the season.

“I don’t think many people in the rugby community would have expected the start we have made – two out of two – but we’ve certainly laid a marker down that we are half-decent.”